| Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War | ||||||
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| Part of theSyrian civil war | ||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||
Support:
Support: |
Support:
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| Strength | ||||||
 Syrian National Army 80,000 (2019) |
 Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham 15,000 (2022)[17] |  Hurras al-Din 1,000–2,000 | ||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||||
| 605 civilians killed[18] 76 unidentified killed[18] an additional 1,200 combatants and 150 civilians estimated killed[18] Total: 5,641–6,991 killed (up until 28 June 2014)[18] | ||||||
Theinter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War has continued throughout theSyrian Civil War as factions of theSyrian opposition andFree Syrian Army have fought each other, with shifting alliances among variousIslamist factions such asAl-Nusra Front,Ahrar al-Sham,Jaysh al-Islam and theIslamic Front.
On 26 July 2012,FSA fighters stormed an outpost near aborder crossing with Turkey in northern Syria manned by 40 foreign al-Qaeda fighters which heldJohn Cantlie and several otherjournalists prisoners. The journalists escaped to the border crossing during the infighting and theal-Qaeda fighters fired at them.[19]
TheFree Syrian Army clashed withJabhat al Nusra on various occasions in 2013.[20] In March 2013, theal-Nusra Front set up a checkpoint and captured 33 fighters from the Farouq Brigades inTell Abyad. Clashes between the two groups resulted in the Farouq commander, Abu Azzam, beingwounded in action. He and other wounded rebels were transferred to ahospital inŞanlıurfa, Turkey. The next week, the 33 Farouq prisoners were released and the border crossing was reopened.[21]
In October 2014, al-Nusra Front, along withJund al-Aqsa, clashed with theSyria Revolutionaries Front in Idlib. At the same time al-Nusra also attacked theHazm Movement in Aleppo.[22]
In January 2015, clashes between the Hazm Movement and al-Nusra spread from Aleppo to Idlib.[23]
Although theSouthern Front of the Free Syrian Army have long cooperated with al-Qaeda in the ground against the Syrian government, ideological tensions between some of their factions brewed in 2014.[24] Ahmad al-Nemeh formed theDaraa Military Council and was subsequently captured and tortured by Nusra as the latter threatened to arrest any member of this new coalition.[25]
During theQuneitra offensive (June 2015), the Southern Front rejected any cooperation with al-Nusra, theArmy of Conquest therefore participated in the operation separately.[26]
In theQuneitra offensive (October 2015) bothJaish al-Fatah and the Southern Front claimed they captured the UN Hill in the area,[26] later that month, the Southern Front and Nusra clashed inDaraa.[27]
Theal-Nusra Front clashed with theal-Rahman Legion inZamalka,Markaz Rif Dimashq District in late July 2016 over a dispute of whom to carry out Friday prayers in one of the mosques of Zamalka town.[28]
On 22 December 2015, the al-Nusra Front attacked the headquarters of the Central Division at theBab al-Hawa Border Crossing, resulting in clashes. The fighting was stopped by the intervention ofAhrar al-Sham.[29]
In March 2016, there were several pro-FSA protests and demonstrations against the Syrian government throughout rebel-controlled territory in Syria. The al-Nusra Front attempted to crack down on the protests in Idlib, in response, the FSA's13th Division raided al-Nusra's headquarter inMaarrat al-Nu'man.[30] Al-Nusra retaliated by shelling Division 13's headquarter in the city.[31] SOHR claimed that Jund al-Aqsa joined the conflict and established checkpoints in support of JaN.[32] According to the 13th Division's media wing, their position was overran and 4 of their fighters were killed.[33]
On 25 December 2016, 2Free Idlib Army commanders were shot and killed in Maarat. Opposition activists accusedJund al-Aqsa of conducting theassassination.[34] The next day, the al-Nusra Front raided houses throughout Idlib and captured 16 FIA fighters from theMountain Hawks Brigade. The rebels were captured on charges of participating in theTurkish military intervention in Syria.[35]
On 20 January 2017,major clashes erupted between theArmy of Mujahideen and the al-Nusra Front inAtarib. Al-Nusra, along with theNour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, also attacked theLevant Front inHaritan. Meanwhile, the Free Idlib Army also clashed with al-Nusra in Idlib.[36]
On 5 April 2017, a vehicle carrying 2Free Idlib Army commanders came under fire fromHayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters at a checkpoint near Khan al-Subul, which was under complete control of HTS. 2 FSA fighters, including a high-ranking commander, were killed in the shootout.[37]
On 4 June 5 fighters of theSham Legion were killed and 2 wounded after their vehicle hit aroadside bomb.[38]
From 6–8 June, clashes broke out betweenTahrir al-Sham and Sham Legion inMaarrat al-Nu'man. The 13th Division and the Free Police joined the fighting on 8 June. By the evening of 8 June, HTS captured both the 13th Division and the Sham Legion's headquarters in Maarat al-Nu'man and killed Col. Tayser al-Samahi, the brother of Col. Ali al-Samahi and the head of the Free Police in the town.[39] On 9 June, Tahrir al-Sham announced the completion of their operations against the FSA and took full control of the town.[40] Later that day, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Free Idlib Army and Tahrir al-Sham in the town and the latter ordered the 13th Division to be disbanded.[41]
On 17 March 2016Jund al-Aqsa members attempted to hold a mourning service at a tent for the death of an ISIL commander inSarmin, Idlib Governorate.Ahrar ash-Sham fighters then entered the tent and forced them to end the ceremony, sparking a gunfight between the two groups. In response, Jund al-Aqsa fighters set up checkpoints in the town, intending to arrest Ahrar ash-Sham members.[42]
On the same day or the next day,Abu Sakkar, an al-Nusra Front commander infamous for eating a dead Syrian soldier's heart when he was the commander of theFarouq Brigades in 2013, was stopped at an Ahrar ash-Sham checkpoint while driving on the road between the towns ofSalqin andHarem. The Ahrar fighters attempted to arrest him when heresisted arrest and drove away toward Harem, resulting in a pursuit by the Ahrar militants. Upon reaching the town, Abu Sakkar attempted to reach for his gun and was fatally shot by his pursuers.[43]
In September 2016 Jund al-Aqsa wounded an Ahrar al-Sham commander in the city ofAriha in a failedassassination attempt and in response, Ahrar al-Sham militants shot and killed 2 Jund al-Aqsa militants and surrounded the JaA headquarters in the city. A Jund al-Aqsasuicide bomber then detonated himself at the Ahrar headquarters and killed 3 others.[44]
In October 2016,clashes broke out between the two groups as Jund al-Aqsa tried to stormKhan Shaykhun. Dozens of militants were killed on both sides while several fighters of Ahrar al-Sham were reportedly captured.[45][better source needed] Clashes between the two sides then escalated throughout theIdlib Governorate, with both sides expelling the other from several towns and villages.[46][better source needed] On 9 October, Jund al-Aqsa was expelled from 3 more villages in Idlib. Meanwhile, several other Islamist groups called upon fighters of the organisation to abandon it.[47][better source needed] The group reportedly pledged allegiance to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham which declared Jund al-Aqsa would be joining its ranks in order to end the infighting between rebel groups.[48]
On 4 December 2016, during the17th Aleppo offensive, the al-Nusra Front backed by the Abu Amara Battalions attacked warehouses held byJaysh al-Islam in the rebel-held southeastern Aleppo. The former captured 2 Jaysh al-Islam fighters, including a commander.[49]
In January 2017, the al-Nusra Front launched several coordinated attacks against Ahrar al-Sham headquarters and positions in the northern Idlib Governorate, near theBab al-Hawa Border Crossing. In addition, al-Nusra also attacked Ahrar al-Sham outposts inDarkush andJisr al-Shughur.[50]
Between 26 April and 1 May 2017, more than 95 rebels were killed duringclashes between Jaysh al-Islam,Tahrir al-Sham, and the Rahman Legion. Jaysh al-Islam fighters opened fire on demonstrators who called for an end to the infighting. The clashes led to Syrian Army advances in eastern Damascus.[51]
On 29 May,Ahrar al-Sham reportedly executed at least 6 fighters of Tahrir al-Sham after capturing them in southern Idlib province.[52][better source needed]
Between 14 and 23 July 2017,clashes broke out between Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham in the Idlib area, resulting in Tahrir al-Sham taking full control ofIdlib city and several towns in the governorate.[53]
In December 2013, theIslamic Front, mainly composing ofAhrar ash-Sham, took over several bases at theBab al-Hawa Border Crossing from theSupreme Military Council and removed the FSA's revolutionary flags. The Islamist fighters captured some SMC guards and seized thousands of small arms and ammunition. As a result, the Islamic Front withdrew from the SMC.[54][55]
In August 2014, 800 fighters from the Islamic Front defected to FSA groups in the northern and easternAleppo Governorate. The defectors condemned the Islamic Front's Islamist andsectarian practices, especially againstChristians andAlawites who initially supported the opposition.[56]
In late November 2015, clashes took place between theArmy of Revolutionaries, supported by theYPG, and the FSA-dominatedMare' Operations Room in the northernAleppo Governorate, backed by Ahrar ash-Sham and the al-Nusra Front. However, both the YPG and al-Nusra denied involvement in the conflict.[57]
In December the conflict between theSyrian Democratic Forces, mainly composing of the YPG and the Army of Revolutionaries and the Mare' Operations Room escalated in northern Aleppo. The latter called on Jaysh al-Thuwar to leave the SDF and sever relations with the PYD, while the former accused the latter of being led by Ahrar ash-Sham and Nusra.[58]
On 26 March 2016,Ahrar ash-Sham ordered the anti-YPG Kurdish FSA groupLiwa Ahfad Saladin to remove theflag of Kurdistan from their posts and threatened military action if they did not.[59] However, Liwa Ahfad Saladin's commander denied the incident ever occurred and claimed Ahrar ash-Sham to be its ally.
On 27 September 2016, several Ahrar al-Sham fighters publicly burned a FSA flag inAzaz. The Ahrar al-Sham spokesman denied involvement and the incident sparked pro-FSA demonstrations in the city.[60]
In early March 2016Jaysh al-Islam clashed with theal-Rahman Legion inZamalka,Markaz Rif Dimashq District. The groups fought for control of a building in the suburbs, resulting in the latter group expelling the former from the building and the streets. The two groups also clashed over the recruitment of fighters from theAjnad al-Sham Islamic Union.[61] On 28 April, Legion, supported by the al-Nursa Front and Ahrar ash-Sham, attacked JaI in easternGhouta, however, Ahrar ash-Sham denied involvement. The Rahman Legion's Air Defense Brigade subsequently defected to Jaysh al-Islam.[62] By 17 May, more than 500 fighters on both sides and a dozen civilians had been killed in the fighting in East Ghouta.[63]
On 6 August 2017, 120Ahrar al-Sham fighters inArbin defected to the Rahman Legion after internal disputes.[64] Ahrar al-Sham accused the Rahman Legion of seizing their weapons, while the Rahman Legion accused Ahrar al-Sham of their attempt to implement their "failed" experience from northern Syria in eastern Ghouta.[65]Tahrir al-Sham reportedly sided with Ahrar al-Sham against the Sham Legion during the clashes.[66] A ceasefire agreement between the Rahman Legion and Ahrar al-Sham was implemented on 9 August.[67]
On 2 November 2016, during theAleppo offensive,Fastaqim Union fighters captured a military commander of theNour al-Din al-Zenki Movement. In response, al-Zenki fighters attacked the Fastaqim Union's headquarters in theSalaheddine District of Aleppo. At least one rebel was killed and more than 25 wounded on both sides in the raid.[68] The next day, theLevant Front and the Abu Amara Brigades began to patrol the streets to arrest any rebels taking part in the clashes.[69] At least 18 rebels were killed in the infighting.[70] The Zenki Movement and the Abu Amara Brigades eventually captured all positions of the Fastaqim Union in eastern Aleppo. Dozens of rebels from the latter group surrendered and were either captured, joined Ahrar al-Sham, or deserted.[71]
Despite the majority of the Fastaqim Union joining Ahrar al-Sham in January 2017, some remnants of the former remained. On 11 May 2017, a former military commander of the group, Abu Hasanayn, was requested to a meeting inIdlib after coming fromal-Bab. Once in Idlib, he was arrested by Ahrar al-Sham. The latter then demanded the remaining holdouts of the Fastaqim Union to surrender their weapons, leading to a clash. Less than an hour later, the Fastaqim headquarter was captured by Ahrar al-Sham. The incident was described as the "final nail in the coffin" for the group.[72]
On 14 November 2016, theLevant Front and theSultan Murad Division clashed at theAzaz border gate withKilis, Turkey.[73] Ahrar al-Sham and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, a former member of the Levant Front, joined the fighting after they accused the Levant Front leaders of "acting like gangs".[74]On 14 May 2017, two separate clashes inJarabulus and Gandura pitted theAhrar al-Sharqiya Brigade against the Sultan Murad Division and theSham Legion. The fighting stopped after the intervention of theTurkish Army.[75]
On 22 May 2017, the Levant Front attacked the Sham Legion near Azaz. The Levant Front accused the Sham Legion of conspiring with the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, part of Tahrir al-Sham. The LF besieged the Sham Legion headquarters, captured a number of their fighters, and seized severalammunition dumps.[76] Between 24 and 25 May 5 FSA factions including the Levant Front, theHamza Division, and theSultan Murad Division conducted a joint attack on the Revolutionary Knights Brigade betweenAzaz andal-Rai and captured more than 20 of their fighters, in addition to killing and wounding at least 10. The FSA factions accused the Revolutionary Knights Brigade of affiliation to the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement and Tahrir al-Sham and partaking insmuggling,looting,extortion, and abuses of civilians.[77]
On 8 August 2017, clashes erupted between theSham Legion and the Freedom Brigade onTurkmen Mountain in the northernLatakia countryside.[78]
In October 2022, theThird Legion, which was made up of the Levant Front andJaysh al-Islam,clashed with theHamza Division, which was supported by theSultan Suleiman Shah Brigade (SSSB), after members of the Hamza Division were found to have killed an activist and his pregnant wife in early October. The Hamza Division and SSSB were forced out of their headquarters. HTS intervened in the Hamza Division's favor, while theLiberation and Construction Movement supported the Third Legion. This resulted in the Third Legion being removed fromAfrin. A ceasefire deal was briefly reached, though it failed and HTS moved onAzaz.[79] Turkey deployed its armed forces to the area on 18 October,[80] as did theHayat Thaeroon for Liberation.[81]
In November 2014, 30 fighters from Ahrar al-Sham raided Jaysh al-Islam positions at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, causing the JaI fighters to abandon their posts and flee. The crossing was later returned to Jaysh al-Islam.[82]
TheEast Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2016) was an armed conflict between the rebel coalition ofJaish al-Fustat, consisting of theal-Nusra Front andal-Rahman Legion, and the rebel groupJaysh al-Islam, that occurred in the rebel-held territories east ofDamascus. Tensions between the two groups took place since March 2016, when the Rahman Legion expelled Jaysh al-Islam inZamalka after absorbing theAjnad al-Sham Islamic Union in February.[83]
TheEast Ghouta inter-rebel conflict (April–May 2017) was an armed conflict between the rebel groupsTahrir al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra) andal-Rahman Legion on one side, and the rebel groupJaysh al-Islam on the other, which took place in the rebel-held territories east ofDamascus.
TheIdlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017) were military confrontations between rebel factions led byAhrar al-Sham and their allies on one side andJabhat Fatah al-Sham (later asTahrir al-Sham) and their allies on the other. After 7 February, the clashes also includedJund al-Aqsa as a third belligerent, which had re-branded itself asLiwa al-Aqsa and was attacking the other combatants. The battles were fought in theIdlib Governorate and the western countryside of theAleppo Governorate.
Clashes broke out betweenTahrir al-Sham and theSyrian Liberation Front during February 2018, the latter backed by theSuqour al-Sham Brigades. A ceasefire was declared in April, by which time SLF and its allies had conquered considerable territory in Idlib and Aleppo provinces.
However, fighting between the two groups began once again in January 2019, whereby Tahrir al-Sham captured the northern town of Darat Izza and moved to envelop theNour al-Din al-Zenki (part of the SLF) stronghold east of Aleppo city.
TheSyrian National Army (SNA), often known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army, operates under the four-year-oldTurkish occupation of northern Syria. A coalition of many rebel factions, these have maintained their own structures while working under the SNA umbrella. The SNA has been criticised for the many human rights abuses visited on civilians (including seizure of property) in areas they control, and the different factions are prone to sporadic infighting (often resulting in civilian casualties), usually over what they regard as thespoils of war or other sources of income, such as control of border crossings.[84][85] Turkish threats to withhold wages are used to restore order among the factions.[86] The infighting has been one of the reasons that former supporters of the SNA return to regime-held areas, and that some SNA fighters surrender to the SDF.[86][87]
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